GAA Palestine has pleaded with the Minister for Justice to use his “discretion” and grant the team visas for an Irish summer tour. 

The team, which is located in the West Bank of Palestine, had hoped to bring 33 teenage hurlers and 14 mentors to Ireland. 

However, last week, the Department of Justice announced their applications for visas had been turned down. 

Today is the last possible day before the trip has to be cancelled and GAA Palestine founder Stephen Redmond is in Ireland to make the case for the visas to be approved. 

“Yesterday, I flew into Dublin from London and I met up with other members of the executive,” he told Lunchtime Live. 

“We made ourselves available at the Ministry of Justice; we waited all day.

“Throughtout the day, we were assured that there’d be a meeting with some senior official. 

“At quarter to five yesterday, I was sent an email in which I was told to seek this resolution through the appeal process.” 

A Palestine GAA banner. Picture by: Vuk Valcic/Alamy Live News

The group has submitted an appeal and, in the meantime, has been meeting TDs, making the case for the team’s summer tour. 

“Today, I’ve been around the Dáil,” Mr Redmond said. 

“We’d been invited in to meet with political parties and I’d like to thank all political parties because we are a GAA organisation. 

“So, it’s a broad spectrum of political views that support us.” 

Leinster House. Picture by: Alamy.com. 

Mr Redmond continued that he believes the group has satisified all the necessary visa requirements and urged the Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan to grant them. 

“The appeal could be dragged out,” he said. 

“What we were hoping for was the Minister to use what he has within his remit [which is] discretion. 

“So, once we put in the appeal, the appeal could be dragged out and preclude us from making the trip. 

“So, we’re hoping that the Minister will use his discretion today.”  

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Government’s decision in relation to the visas was made with the “well-being of the children” in mind.

Main image: Stephen Redmond. Picture by: RollingNews.ie.